Damien figured out how to escape Azella the Unpitying just as he realized his Realm and Queen are in mortal danger. Now he must try to return to Ilseador in time to save everyone from the demon Azella is sending to destroy them all.
**********
Being the captive of Azella the Unpitying ? who would have made him her apprentice and her spouse ? has taught Damien a world of things.
How to use his magick more effectively, for one.
And just what an Evil Sorceress really does, for another.
But it's the lessons about himself that are the hardest: that he'll put the end before the means, to save his Realm and those he loves most dearly.
By the time Damien breaks free of Azella's fell Keep he is, in many ways, a broken man. And no longer sure he can consider himself a 'Good' Sorcerer.
It will be up to Adam Loveress, Champion, mentor... and (awkwardly, inconveniently) beloved, to remind the king of who ? and what ? he truly is.
********
This epic fantasy explores the complex interactions of Magick and Philosophy, Means and Ends, and... SPINNING...
Want to start at the beginning? Book One of the Chronicles of Ilseador: The Rebel Duchess is available in print and eBook at all fine online retailers!
********
Teaser:
"I failed you. We all failed you... Failed the Realm..."
Adam's words were choked out.
"Failed Genevieve."
Damien's heart, still exhilarated from his run across the country and his reclamation of Farivera, stilled from its wild beat. He had known. In some part of himself he had always known what he was coming home to find.
"Tomas Elsevier has her hostage, does he?"
Adam nodded without raising his head. "Her and..."
"Jason."
Adam nodded again, eyes tightly shut, and with tears still leaking out. The Royal Guards he had brought with him down to the docks looked uncomfortably at this collapse of the stoically sarcastic man who had trained most of them. They were knights all and were not so far away from their days as squires under Adam's sharp eye.
"And the city is under siege?" Damien asked. He hadn't noticed any such thing as he ran down the surface of the rivers. But... he wasn't sure he would have, immersed in his magick as he had been.
"What need?" Adam whispered bitterly. "Without any Alsterling to hold it, what were we to do but follow Tomas' orders? With him holding..."
Damien's arms went around Adam.
"We'll fix it, Adam. Somehow... we'll fix it."
